Life of Ukrainian refugees across Europe
Liudmyla Rusina, a Ukrainian refugee from Kyiv now living in Germany, recently picked up a basket of groceries at Kaufland for only €20, taking advantage of promotional discounts. She explained:
“We knew there would be sales today, so we stopped by”.
Her purchases included:
- fresh vegetables
- fruit
- other household items
A kilogram of fresh chicken was priced at €8.29 (428 UAH) under the promotion. A pack of 12 coffee pods cost €2 (104 UAH). Three packs of mushrooms were available for €0.39 each (18 UAH), with discounts exceeding 50–60%. Liudmyla also bought 1 kg of strawberries for €1.59 (73 UAH) and 1 kg of apricots for €1 (88 UAH). Nectarines were priced at €2.49 per 2 kg, and a pack of fresh cucumbers (750 g) cost €1 (52 UAH). Two bell peppers came to €0.96—without the discount, they would have been €2.15, or 112 UAH per kg.
Challenges facing Ukrainian refugees
Meanwhile, another Ukrainian woman, Liera Vynogradova from Mariupol, now residing in Poland, voiced concerns over skyrocketing real estate prices in that country. She said she cannot afford to buy a new home due to the inflated housing market. These two cases highlight the contrasting realities of Ukrainian refugees in Europe: some are stretching budgets at the grocery store, while others struggle to secure affordable housing.
Currently, Ukrainian refugees across Europe face a broad range of challenges, from finding budget-friendly food to solving housing issues. On one hand, as Liudmyla’s experience shows, shopping during sales can ease some financial pressure. On the other hand, Liera’s situation underscores the difficulty posed by high property prices, which prevents many Ukrainians from finding a stable place to live. This illustrates the need for comprehensive support for Ukrainian refugees in various aspects of their daily lives in their host countries.
While some Ukrainian refugees, like Liudmyla in Germany, manage to find ways to stretch their budgets through discounts, others face more daunting challenges. For instance, Liera Vynogradova from Mariupol, now in Poland, struggles with soaring property prices that hinder her ability to purchase a home. This stark contrast in experiences highlights the diverse difficulties faced by Ukrainian refugees across Europe. To learn more about Liera's plight and the impact of the real estate market, read about her situation here.